A number of years ago I went to a Native American Spirituality conference as part of my continuing education. One evening our meal was a selection of native dishes. I was very glad to sample some foods that I had never tried before and some with which was quite familiar.

One food was something called "bitterroot". I put some on my plate and went to sit down at the table next to my roommate who was Native American. I tried some of the bitterroot and immediately realized that I didn't like it and probably wouldn't finish it.

I noticed that my roommate had some on his plate. I asked him if he liked it. He said "No", even though he eats it often. I asked him why.

He said that in the days before European Americans arrived the tribes of the high desert regions would gather bitterroot during the time of the year when there was little or nothing else available to eat. They gladly ate it, even though it was bitter, because they wanted to survive and because they wanted to show thanks to their Maker who had provided it.

"Now," he said, "even though we have refrigerators and don't need to eat bitterroot, we still do, because for us it's kind of a sacrament. We want to show our thankfulness for the way in which God has provided for us."

Sacraments. Some water, some bread, some wine, some bitterroot. God provides what we need.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Here's a review of the film we will be watching between services beginning this Sunday, April 23rd. I hope you can join us. - Pastor Tom

Film Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

In his bold and posthumously published Letters and Papers from Prison, Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 - 1945) wrote: "I should like to speak of God not on the boundaries but at the center, not in weakness but in strength, and therefore not in death and guilt but in man's life and goodness. God is the beyond in the midst of our life. And the church stands, not at the boundaries where human powers give out, but in the midst of the village." This imaginative vision of a "religionless Christianity" has yet to be realized, but it does touch upon some of the seminal points in the life and ministry of this unusual man of faith.Bonhoeffer also wrote: "We have for once learnt to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspective of the outcasts, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed, the reviled — in short, from the prospective of those who suffer." These are hard words to live up to and throughout his short but turbulent life, Bonhoeffer wrestled with his conscience as he tried to see the events happening in Germany from below.This 90-minute documentary is directed, produced, and narrated by Martin Doblmeier. It stands as a moving memorial and a fitting tribute to this formidable German theologian who was hanged on April 5, 1945, at Flossenberg prison camp for his role in assassination plots against Hitler. His final words to a fellow prisoner were: "This is the end, for me the beginning of life."Bonhoeffer was born in 1906 into a well-to-do family. His father was a professor in psychiatric medicine at the University of Berlin. Rare family photographs, along with interviews with family members, convey their life together in love. Bonhoeffer finished his doctorate in theology at age 21. In his dissertation he wrote about the church as the physical manifestation of Christ on Earth. Theologian Karl Barth called it "a theological miracle." While the Nazis were organizing in Germany, Bonhoeffer studied for a year in New York at Union Theological Seminary. He firmed up his belief in pacifism and was quite impressed with the ardor of worship and devotional life in Harlem churches.Back in Germany, Bonhoeffer taught systematic theology at the University of Berlin. He was one of the first pastors to speak out against Hitler, even when other church leaders were embracing him out of nationalistic fervor. After the Nazis began boycotting Jewish establishments, Bonhoeffer admonished Christians to stand in solidarity with the Jews. He joined a group of pastors who broke away from the Evangelical Church and eventually set up an independent seminary at Finkenwalde based on study, mutual service and prayer. The Nazis shut it down in 1937. In 1939, Bonhoeffer went to New York but changed his mind and returned home, saying "I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the tribulations of this time with my people."Throughout the documentary, actor Klaus Maria Brandauer reads short passages from Bonhoeffer's works including The Cost of Discipleship, Ethics, and Letters and Papers from Prison. This film produced by Journey Films also includes interviews with friends, former students, theologians, church historians, biographer Elbert Bethge, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It provides the most thorough presentation we've had to date of Bonhoeffer's resistance to Hitler. But it also profiles Bonhoeffer the man, including a love affair in the last years of his life. Given all the pressures he was enduring at the time, it's nice to see the joy it brought him.This documentary is remarkably timely, and we encourage churches, synagogues, and other religious groups to plan theatre parties and followup discussions. It is really quite amazing to see how relevant the ethical concerns that Bonhoeffer struggled with are to the moral dilemmas of our time when war and power plays dominate the world scene and the suffering of countless people is ignored. Across the years, this courageous and principled pastor speaks to us: "The ultimate question for a responsible man to ask is not how he can extricate himself heroically from the affair, but how the coming generation is to live."

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Dear SOV friends - Here is some news from ELCA Global Links. As we observe Holy Week and Easter, it's good to remember our connections to the wider world as Holy Week and Easter touches it also. - Pastor Tom

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

First of all, in case you weren't able to be in church last Sunday, I wanted to let you know that you are invited to come to church a little early on Palm Sunday, this coming Sunday. At 8:15 a.m. and at 10:45 a.m. we will go on a little walk through the park that is next door to our church. It will be a kind of Palm Sunday procession in the park. Come and join us.

Secondly, I wanted to tell you about an event that took place this last Sunday evening at my home church, King of Kings Lutheran Church in Milwaukie. This congregation has been sharing its building with the Spanish speaking Church of God of Prophesy for a few years now, much like SOV shares its building with the Korean church.

The two congregations gathered together on Sunday evening for worship, prayer, and song. Many of the members of the Church of God of Prophesy congregation are fearful because some of them, or their friends, or family members are in danger of being deported. We gathered together to give each other strength, courage, and hope during these difficult times. Afterward, we shared a community potluck supper.

It was quite moving to share our faith, experiences, fears, and hopes. May God give us the help that we need as we support our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Registration for the coming school year is in full swing. Contact us by email kokpreschool [at] gmail (dot) com or by phone 503-645-0236 to get more information or to arrange a tour. Classes are filling up so call today!

Adult Forum on Dietrich Bonhoeffer to begin

We will begin a series about him beginning on Sunday. April 23rd through Sunday May 21st during the Adult Education time between worship services. We will view and discuss a video called ":Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Pacifist, Nazi Resister". The sessions will be led by Pastor Tom. You are invited!